Richard Florida is the author of the highly provocative Rise of the Creative Class and the follow-up book Flight of the Creative Class. Who's Your City is not specifically tied to RF's earlier work, but does build upon the basic premise that the change to a post-industrial, service and tech economy affects where people choose to live, and that this choice will affect every aspect of their lives.
I loved this book. I actually had a hard time finishing it because I kept finding myself staring into space digesting chunks of thought. This is definitely a book to read, ponder, repeat; and like shampoo, you just keep doing it until it all sinks in.
One of the main reasons that I loved the book is the author's clear bias toward the SF Bay Area. It's always nice to have someone tell you that you live in the best area in the world and then prove it through statistical analysis.
The tone of the book had a nice blend of scholarly analysis and populistic spoon-feeding. It is a mostly easy-to-read book with the occasional patch of challenging material, which is one of the main things that I look for in my non-fiction reading.
I think that the whole concept of the creative class is such a huge pivotal point in modern life that everyone should read at least one book by RF to be prepared to discuss it with friends, family & coworkers. One of the bits that has been picked up by the press is RF's finding that the presence of a high percentage of homosexuals in a neighborhood will lead to an eventual rise in property value. RF offers a few possible theories to explain this association. Interesting.
Go forth, read, and then move to the Bay Area!
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